Offroad-Express

Kiaora People!

New to the Forums, been reading for a little while but this will be my icebreaker, I'm traditionally a Fisho and have never ventured much further past 90mile beach and abit of mud on the ramp before in a 4wd, however that has all recently changed after the chance to purchase an 87 Hilux Surf 2.4L to tow the boat came up.

Out with the Subaru and in with the Toyota.

Never one to not test out what I'm purchasing thoroughly (and with the wind screwing my fishing plans) we decided to head to Woodhill for abit of a play around at the Jeep 4wd Park.. see below.




A great day out was had by all and it seems I've found a new hobby (as i explained it to the funds manager) "I'm diversifying my recreational pursuits in order to maximise the efficiency of our time while building an asset based portfolio for the future.." She didn't really know what i was on about but i took that as approval/acceptance anyway..

So anyway, I've found myself with afew questions about where to go from here afew of the more experienced members might be able to point me in the right direction with. I'm not looking to build a hardout truck, just something that will tow the boat, take me through some mud and do it without worries.

Woodhill was great fun and the truck performed awesome, AT tyres and low ratio she got through near everything without too much trouble, getting caught at one Sandy hill before finding another way through and only killing a slave cylinder in the process (probably needed replacing at that stage anyway) however it was dry and as the ad goes, i feel like i need something else..

So.. I'm looking at getting a set of Kumho KL71 31x10.5 tyres as these look like they will give me abit more grip in the loose stuff and shouldn't have any problems fitting in without any rubbing (dont want to lift the truck due to towing concerns, or is it relatively simple to lower the tow bar? Anyone else here that have a multi use truck they could give me some ideas on? I like the look of a removable jobbie but not sure its the way to go..)

Also putting a snorkel on it so it can look somewhat bad ass and thinking some basic recovery gear (rear tow hook, hi lift jack, shovel) wouldn't go amiss either. Id also eventually want to put a winch on her however am not so sure when it comes to the ratings and what i would require..

Shes getting a matt black paint job just to get rid of the crazy cracking and paint fade and the duck covers are already in as the seats are more comfy than the Day car and with wet shorts from retrieving the boat id like to keep them that way.

Ive read that afew guys recommend a locker on the rear diff but not so sure i need to go that far yet.. Wondering what you guys think of what I'm thinking, are we thinking the same, am i thinking dumb, what would be the best thinking on this?

Cheers Guys, looking forward to getting out there and doing abit more mud flinging!
Alex.

Nice truck, the only problem I would see with a rear auto locker is is might cause some trouble when lock to lock reversing on tarmac that you normally do with a boat.

I run an autolocker in the back of my daily driver surf, it has no trouble with towing. Or backing trailers for that matter

Well sweet there you go!

sounds like you on the right track, and sounds like you dont wana do anything to extreme either, so should be able to do what you wana do for little money, should be able to squeeze 32" muds undaneith, you only have to raise the rear a little with aftermarket springs as the front is i.f.s, cheap enough, wind up front torsion bars abit, spend money on good recovery gear, even a l.s.d will be shit load beter than your current open diff if your unsure about a locker, and will be fraction of the price

Welcome, good to see another surf driver out there, have fun in it! think it is quite easy to lower the tow bar - and set it up so its detachable so you can take it off when off road. Mine is lifted about 3 inch and tows the boat fine.

Tomo.

Hey Guys

Cheers for the replies, the forum is f*^^ing fantastic like that, looks like this will become a second home to fishing.net.nz/forums

J_Dub - Really 32's?! Is it worth the extra few hundred for another inch? As i write this i know the answer already..
Anyone have any thoughts on the Kumho's?

Ive got a good price for some which is why im leaning that way, the truck is only ever used for Towing the boat or 4wding. The Vitz (yeah yeah.. ha ha) does daily duties on the smell of a fart so keeps the accountant happy and means if the Hilux isn't working its resting.

I like the sounds of an lsd in there, hadn't thought along that line before, definitely be cheaper and hmmm, yes i think will be added to the cards, just found out the rear diff blew a seal (wasn't just the cylinder slave after all ) so while its up there i wonder how much i can find one for..

Anyway, keep the advice coming, bloody golden.
Cheers
Alex.

yes they are a good tyre , or goodyear MTR .s maybe a better opition for you

loryda wrote:Hey Guys

Cheers for the replies, the forum is f*^^ing fantastic like that, looks like this will become a second home to fishing.net.nz/forums
Alex.

welcome to your new addiction

im the same but the other way round

wopass there as well, spend my time mostly in the yak yak forum slayin it with softys

wopass wrote:

loryda wrote:Hey Guys

Cheers for the replies, the forum is f*^^ing fantastic like that, looks like this will become a second home to fishing.net.nz/forums
Alex.

welcome to your new addiction

im the same but the other way round

wopass there as well, spend my time mostly in the yak yak forum slayin it with softys

forum whore

im a fishing, 4x4ing whore





just to show off a little

wopass wrote:im a fishing, 4x4ing whore





just to show off a little

i have seen that fish first hand....... its massive
that pic dose not do it justice

arnt you spose to be making my power

not making it bro, just fixing the machines that make it, go turn on a light...does it go?? my work here is done

going off the topic here tho

Hahaha, that is a slab of a fish alright, I'm trying to get my first king off a plastic at the moment, unfortunately the hilux is off the road at the moment so the boats going no where but things are in motion so I'm not complaining, yet..

I'm loryda over there too, mostly in the Briney Bar and Soft Plastic forums but not on as much anymore.

Anyway back to the 4wding.. Just had a look at some Goosyear MT's, look nice but cant find a price, whats the advantages over the Kuhmo?

Cheers
Alex.

P.S - Just noticed the Tui bottle next to the snapper on the bottom, thats abit of a horse dude, how heavy did it run do you know?

loryda wrote:Hahaha, that is a slab of a fish alright, I'm trying to get my first king off a plastic at the moment, unfortunately the hilux is off the road at the moment so the boats going no where but things are in motion so I'm not complaining, yet..

I'm loryda over there too, mostly in the Briney Bar and Soft Plastic forums but not on as much anymore.

Anyway back to the 4wding.. Just had a look at some Goosyear MT's, look nice but cant find a price, whats the advantages over the Kuhmo?

Cheers
Alex.

P.S - Just noticed the Tui bottle next to the snapper on the bottom, thats abit of a horse dude, how heavy did it run do you know?

MTR is a good tyre and i think a bit cheaper than the kumho having said that the kumho is a good tyre as well. depends on what you like the look of and your driving style really.

the 2 bottom snapps were 22lb and 20lb the one on top was 18lb i have another pic that shows the opther snapps i caught that day but they were only between 10 and 15lb i do a lot of SP fishing, mainly off the Yak, very productive

wopass - Very solid fish, I'm a softbaiter as well, still waiting for the 20+ mark but done a couple of 15lb ers this summer on Lime Tigers i cant complain about. I just have a little 14'6 Sea Nymph that i drag about the place, thinking once the hilux has afew bits and bobs ill start modding the trailer to be taken up sand banks for the exit ramp on 90 mile beach, anyone done this before?

I like the look of the MTR's, they look like the business but the Kumho's arnt too bad either, guess will come down to preference, i think it will be mainly mud and sand it will see, rocks arnt really my thing (yet).

Will take a look around and see how goes, gotta go pick up a rear bearing and diff seal kit now, wohoooo!

Cheers Guys
Alex.

mtrs wear longer on road to the kumho 71s

Hi coxsy

Cheers for the info, I'm not planning on doing many miles in the truck as the boat ramps only 500m away (i used to do it w/ a quad.. till it broke )

Just found these.. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =206150963
which look to be a good buy, guy recons he will do free freight to Auckland for me too, and one of these..
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 233039.htm which is kinda pricey but look the business so hopefully on track.

And I'm thinking about.. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 383085.htm these too, just getting them here might be a struggle..

Anyway, the Hilux will be back on the road this weekend and hopefully if the weather plays well will be sporting a new paintjob and less standard gheyness.. and towing the boat

Will post some pics when i get some.

Chuur
Alex.

hi ya the kumo tyres are what i run a good tyre , the snork another good investment . new diffs if you real need them

Hi n welcome im useing Goodyear MTR,s 32,s this way and since fitting them ive been going places that me Dunlop ATR,s wold not even look at.
Just my 2 cents worth

Hey Guys

Back again, been tinkering a little and taken off the rear bumper to have a squiz, doing so shearing 4 bolts so why not use it as an excuse to set up a new rear bar and detachable towhitch..


Haven't quite done all the measurement's yet but basing it slightly off this..


Mounting recovery points on the rear like this..


Except using eye type tabs to mount recovery shackles off of instead of the tow hooks.

Anyone have any tips regarding the use of rated shackles (4.75t Green Pin Shackles) over rated hooks? I'm mainly thinking to keep it cleaner on the rear?? plus personal preference looks wise..

Hoping to drop the plans to my engineer friend and get this under way before the end of next week, still mulling my tyre options, 33s for $359 more sound so tempting over the 31s but I'm not considering the cost of rims or diffs or lift or or or.... and so forth so maybe not. (although with the detachable tow bar my lifting / towing issues are sorted)

Just a little skeptical on how the 31s will go and finding a set of 32's keep coming back as much as 33s and the grass just keeps seeming greener I'm now thinking the truck will see abit of sand in its life and i guess ive kinda gotten the bug, i even forego fishing today to do some work on her.. that just aint right!

Hoping to get it all done before Easter so i can go for a bash somewhere (thinkin Woodhill), with work so crazy lately and other commitments i haven't been able to do sh*t, but all the more pesos i guess and they help when it comes time to fill up the toy cabinet

Any comments/suggestions welcome.
Cheers
Alex.

So still waiting for the engineer to get back to me with my rear bar but in the meantime I've ordered afew bits with these arriving today..



About to get them fitted so hopefully have a finished product shot a little later, abit better than the old AT's.. which, btw, are for sale if anyone's interested (30x9.5x15 Nexan Roadian's).

Will update other bits a little later on.

Hollaaah!
Alex.

Well finally got to get the Hilux back out and have a play this weekend..




Headed back to Woodhill to try out the new tyres and see if she would climb the hill that we failed the last time, went up first run no sweat so pretty stoked with them.

Unfortunately not much mud and very dry but found a couple of puddles to play in and managed to dirty out the washworld afterwards

Found my limits on a couple of places, diffs definitely need to be sorted asap and the flex is horrid..




Combined to let me down a couple of times and im not a fan of using speed to get over things, so these are now higher on the to-do list than previously. Also managed to get myself into this situation which solidified my desire to get a rear bar made up asap..





Bent the sh*t out of my exhaust but nothing the angle grinder hasn't rescued

Anyway, besides those few things im pretty happy with her so far, definitely become something more than a tow car but that's cool, trying to convince my mate with a Delica to bring it out, should be good for a laugh

Cheers
Alex.

looks the part mate, tyres look good, get a longer rear brake hose and longer shocks in the rear and you will get more travel in the rear

hey mate what size and brand tire did you end up getting? how much were they each? pics of your hilux look great!

Tomo

Hi Tomo

They're 31" Kumho KL71's i got on special for $250 a tyre, haven't put too many kms under them yet but cant fault them so far, finally got to put them in the mud last weekend and didn't have any issues and in the wet they handle better than my daily driver. Good tyre.

Cheers
Alex.

nice one, sound like a good price too.

cheers.

thats why people who have them say buy'um

loryda wrote:Hey Guys
Snip X X
Mounting recovery points on the rear like this..


Except using eye type tabs to mount recovery shackles off of instead of the tow hooks.

Anyone have any tips regarding the use of rated shackles (4.75t Green Pin Shackles) over rated hooks? I'm mainly thinking to keep it cleaner on the rear?? plus personal preference looks wise..

Snip XX

Any comments/suggestions welcome.
Cheers
Alex.

The main advantage of rated hooks over shackles is SAFETY
The hook is the weakest link and if over stressed it will straighten out letting the strop go.


With shackles you can end up with the shackle and whatever it was mounted to flying through the air

http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/Forums/viewforum.php?f=49

Hi Dazza

Cheers for the info, I've decided on hooks now for that very reason, hate too see the shackle go flying, just out of curiosity, how do the shackles tend to break? Pull the pin out or..?

Cheers
Alex.